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APPEAL 



BY THE 



Historical Society of Berks County 



Descendants of Early Settlers 



FOR 



Historical Documents. 



The Historical Society of Berks County was reor- 
ganized in March, 1898, after a period of inactivity 
for nearly thirty years, and one of its purposes is to col- 
lect and preserve documents of all kinds relating to the 
early history of the county. 

It is known that there is still a large number of 
documents of this character in different parts of the 
:ounty, but the persons in whose possession they are 
io not appreciate their historical value and importance 
)y keeping them hidden in boxes, barrels, bureaus, etc. 



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-..'^ 63482 

^They relate particularly to the early settlements of the 
'-' county ; to the organization and establishment of the 
first churches and schools ; to the birth, baptism, mar- 
riage, and death of the early settlers contained in 
church and family records ; to the period of the 
Revolution and also to the War of 1 8 1 2, including 
commissions to officers and military rosters ; to the 
various industries, such as forges, furnaces, grist-mills, 
saw -mills, and factories of various kinds; to the 
patents and first deeds for land ; and to early almanacs, 
newspapers, magazines, periodicals, and books printed 
in the county. 

It is believed that many original papers, books, and 
records, relating to the topics mentioned, can be ob- 
tained by making a public appeal to the descendants 
of the early settlers of the county, and in this behalf 
the Society, at its last meeting (November 8, 1898), 
directed the undersigned Committee to prepare a cir- 
cular and have the same sent to such persons as might 
have documents, etc., of the character indicated, or 
who might be sufficiently acquainted in their respective 
districts as to make the proper appeal to parties who 
"■e still likely to possess such documents. 

This circular has therefore been prepared by the 

mmittee, and it will be sent by the Secretary of the 

ety to prominent and influential men, who are 

stly requested to institute the necessary search in 



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their respective districts for the discovery of such 
documents, etc., as may yet be in existence, and to 
kindly forward, for preservation, such as may be found, 
to the Secretary, George M. Jones, Esq., Reading, Pa., 
or deliver the same to him personally. 

The Society takes great pleasure in announcing that 
the Commissioners of Berks County have set apart for 
the use of the Society a suitable room in the Court- 
House on the third floor, and furnished it with closets 
and drawers for the purpose of depositing all such 
books, papers, and documents as may be received, and 
there they will be preserved with great care, and, of 
course, will be available to all interested parties for 
examination. 

The Society would be much pleased to have all 
persons interested in local history to become members, 
and thereby greatly assist in accomplishing the purpose 

mentioned. 

Samuel C. Mayer, 
Thos. C. Zimmerman, 
Morton L. Montgomery 

Conunittee on Publ- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 207 666 4 



Officers and Coinmittees of the Society : 

President^ 
Albert G. Green. 

Fice- Pre si den ts. 
Samuel L. Young, Hon. G. A. Endlich, 

Jesse G. Hawley, J. H. Sternbergh. 

Recording Secretary^ 
George M. Jones. 

Corresponding Secretary^ 
H. M. M. Richards. 

Treasurer^ 
Fred. M. Yeager. 

Committee on Finance. 

George B. Eckert, Hon. Daniel Ermentrout, 

B. F. Owen. 

Committee on Publication. 

Samuel C. Mayer, Thos. C. Zimmerman, 

Morton L. Montgomery. 

Committee on Library. 
Louis Richards, Frederick W. Nicolls. 



LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 



014 207 666 4 • 



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